Collection context
Summary
- Creators:
- Lesbian Schoolworkers.
- Abstract:
- With a commitment to "fighting racism, sexism, class and oppression within our own movement and this society," the Lesbian Schoolworkers organized in 1977 to defeat the Briggs Initiatives. Their records consist of an organizational history, principles of unity and structure, press releases, leaflets, newsletters, and photographs. The records also contain the drafts and final script for the slideshow, "Don't Let It Happen Here," produced by the Schoolworkers to inform people of the dangers of the Briggs Initiatives.
- Extent:
- 1 document box (.5 linear ft.)
- Language:
- Finding aid is written in English. and Materials are in English.
Background
- Scope and content:
-
The Lesbian Schoolworker Records consist of an organizational history, principles of unity and structure, press releases, newsletters, and photographs. There is also information about both pro and anti-Briggs organizations; a San Francisco Board of Education study on the possibility of including "gay lifestyle" into school curriculum on family and health studies; and the Oregon State Task Force of 1977 report, which collected "information on homosexual men and women in Oregon in order to make recommendations on legislation and administrative policies that would ensure the civil rights of all Oregonians."
- Biographical / historical:
-
With a commitment to "fighting racism, sexism, class and oppression within our own movement and this society," the Lesbian Schoolworkers organized in 1977 to defeat the Briggs Initiatives, Propositions 6 and 7. The organization was among the many to rally against the anti-lesbian and gay bill, but it was among the few groups which actively campaigned against the anti-lesbian and pro-death penalty laws, continually pointing out the relationship between Third World oppression and the oppression of all lesbians.
The Schoolworkers was structured into three primary committees: Media, Outreach, and Fundraising. With a core group of twenty, and over seventy participants, the group planned numerous educational activities, sponsored cultural events, and produced leaflets and newsletters aimed at defeating the legislation. Representatives often went before various civic groups, councils and educational organizations to speak against the measures.
The Schoolworkers are probably best known for their slideshow, "Don't Let It Happen Here." Designed to inform people of the dangers of the Briggs Initiatives, it drew together such crucial struggles as the Bakke case, abortion, death penalty, and women's and lesbian oppression. Amber Hollibaugh, political activist from San Francisco, traveled throughout small Northern California towns presenting the slideshow, participating in public debates with all types of opposition leaders. Throughout the election fight, the Schoolworkers emphasized that the struggle against Proposition 6 was not a single campaign issue or just a fight for civil rights, but "to make it clear to people that we are all suffering at the hands of a common enemy."
- Acquisition information:
- Provenance unknown. This collection is part of an outreach and collection-building partnership between the June L. Mazer Lesbian Archives, the UCLA Center for the Study of Women (CSW) and the UCLA Library.
- Arrangement:
-
Materials are arranged according to subject.
- Physical location:
- Stored off-site at SRLF. Advance notice is required for access to the collection. Please contact UCLA Library Special Collections for paging information.
- Rules or conventions:
- Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: a Content Standard
Access and use
- Location of this collection:
-
A1713 Charles E. Young Research LibraryBox 951575Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575, US
- Contact:
- (310) 825-4988